Congestion charge

The congestion charge was introduced on February 17 2003, covering eight square miles of central London. The initial charge of a vehicle entering the zone was £5, but this was raised to £8 in July 2005.

LCC campaigned to promote the benefits of cycling in the months leading to the congestion charge being introduced. It provided support, advice and “bike buddy” schemes for Londoners who decided to cycle to work.

The introduction of the congestion charge led to one of the biggest increases in cycling ever seen in any of the world’s major cities.

In the first year of the operation of the congestion zone, cycling increased by about a third. In October 2005, Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, said the number of cycle journeys on the capital’s roads had doubled between 2000 and 2005.

TfL is extending the congestion zone to the west from February 2007. It will mean Notting Hill, Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Pimlico are included in the zone.